Rail brace



Oct. 13, 1925. 1,557,095

E. B. RUTLEDG E RAIL BRAcE Filed My 12. 1924 Patented Oct. 13, 1925.

FATE N l Q EDWARD B. RUTLEDGE, 0 F SMITI-IFIELD, NEBRASKA.

RAIL BRACE.

Application filed May 12, 1924. Serial No. 712,674.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD B. RUTLEDGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Smithfield, in the county of GOSPEL and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Ball Brace, of which the following is a speclfication.

This invention relates to improvements in railroad track clamps particularly employed on curves and switches.

An important object of the invention 18 to provide a brace for railroad rails which maybe readily secured to the rails and retain the same firmly in position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a brace of this character which may be readily adjusted to retain the ralls at the desired spread.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is comparatively simple in constructlon, durable enough to securely retain the rails in position and comparatively cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this. specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is a plan view of the device constructed in accordance with my invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 generally denotes the tie rods two of which are employed in my improved brace, the inner portions being rounded as at 6. The extremities of the rounded portions of the tie rods 5 are externally threaded as at 7, one being provided with a right hand thread and the other with a left hand thread, for

the purpose of receiving a turn buckle 8 adapted to threadedly engage the extremities of the tie rods and properly adjust the same. In order to secure the turn buckle when the proper adjustment has been made I provide a set screw 8 threadedly mounted through the turn buckle and engaging one of the extremities of the tie rod.

The outer portions of the tie rods are substantially rectangular in shape to form a pair of base plates 9, a pair of retaining jaws 10 being formed on the extreme ends of the base plates 9 adapted to engage the lower portions of railroad rails. The opposite extremities of the base plates are provided with upwardly projecting lugs 11 provided for a purpose which will be explained later. The intermediate portions of the base plate 9 are provided with U shaped straps 12 extending above the base plates and adapted to retain a clamping plate 13 securely against the base, plates.

The clamping plate 18 is provided with an opening to permit a bolt 14: to be inserted therethrough and securely retain the same upon the base plates 9, one extremity of the plate 13 having an upwardly curved jaw 15 fitting tightly OVGI the inner portion of the rail base plate and forcing the same tightly against the fixed jaw 10. The clamping plate 18 is prevented from sliding away from the rail by the lug 11 which engages the rear portion of the plate and prevents movement thereof.

Due to the great strain thrown upon the fixed jaws 10 I consider it desirable to reinforce these jaws by a pair of U-shaped retaining clips 16 which may be welded or formed thereon to further strengthen these jaws and prevent spreading of the rails.

In practical use the device is applied as follows: The clamping plates 13 are inserted under the straps 12 and are secured against the lugs 11 by the bolts which pass through the plates and the rods 5. The jaws 10 and 15 are then slipped over the base flanges of the track rails from the ends of the rails and when the rods are at desired positions upon the opposite rails the turn buckle 8 is applied to the threads 7 of the rods and the rods may be drawn towards each other whereby the track rails are moved towards each other. To spread the track rails with relation to each other, the turn buckle is turned in an opposite direction.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A rail brace of the character described comprising a pair of tie rods, a turn buckle connecting the said tie rods, angular rail embracing jaws formed upon the outer eX- means for securing the removable clamps tremities of the said tie rods, U-shaped upon the tie rods, and a pair of U-shaped straps formed on the intermediate portions retaining 01 amp s adapted to embrace the 10 of the tie rods, extension lugs formed on the 0111191 retalnlng J said tie rods, a pair of removable clamps I11 testimony o I ave affixed my adapted to be inserted beneath the U-shaped Signaturestraps to engage the inner side of the rails EDWARD B. RUTLEDGE. 

